WO1999062344A1 - Improved food patty molding machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A patty forming machine (300) includes a frame structure (302) supporting a compartment (318) which encloses a mechanical reciprocating device (270), the compartment (318) having a front wall (342). A mold plate (47) located outside of the front wall (342) includes cavities (46) for receiving food product for the formation of patties. At least one drive rod (350, 352) having a circular cross-section penetrates the front wall (342) and connects the mold plate (47) to the reciprocating device (270). The machine (300) also includes a vacuum bar assembly having a vacuum bar (106) for interleaving flexible paper sheets with formed patties. The vacuum bar (106) is driven by a reciprocating rod (450) having a round cross-section and penetrating through the front wall (342) of the housing (314) to operatively connect the vacuum bar (106) to the reciprocating device (270). Reciprocating knock-out rods (400) are guided both above and below the knock-out bar arms (64, 79), and tied together by a rod (474), for vertical reciprocating movement. Substantially sealed oil reservoirs (500) supply oil via wicks (102, 103) to the reciprocating mechanisms (72) which drive the knock-out arms (64, 79).

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION IMPROVED FOOD PATTY MOLDING MACHINE

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

This application claims the benefit of prior filed

United States provisional applications U.S. Serial No. 60/088,303, filed June 5, 1998 and 60/088,243, filed June 5, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a food patty molding machine and in

particular to improvements to the operating structure of a known food patty

molding machine such as described in FIGURES 1 through 8B.

A FORMAX- 12 brand food patty molding or forming machine 30

manufactured by Formax, Inc., of Mokena, Illinois, U.S.A. is shown in

FIGURES 1-8B. The operation of the machine is generally described in U.S.

Patents 4,182,003; 4,054,967; and 3,952,478, herein incorporated by reference.

This machine includes a sheet metal housing 34 which encloses the

mechanical equipment of the machine. The housing is supported on wheels 35a

and/or leveling legs 35b. A hopper 36 is situated at an elevated position on the

machine. The hopper mcludes an open top 40 for receiving bulk food products,

for example, whole muscle chicken or ground beef. A pair of feed screws

within the hopper (not shown) drives the food product into a pump box area 44 where a reciprocating pump 45 (FIGURE 2) presses the food product into mold

cavities 46 (shown in FIGURE 9) of a reciprocating mold plate 47. The mold

plate is reciprocated out of the pump box area to a knock-out area 50 where

knock-out cups 52 push the formed meat product or patties out of the cavities

and onto a conveyer 56 (FIGURE 2). A paper placing station 58 includes

mechanisms to interleave paper between patties during the dropping of the

patties onto the conveyor.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the machine of FIGURE 1 with an access door 57

open. The knock-out cups 52 are held on a horizontal bar 60 which is supported

by two spaced apart knock-out bar arms 64. The knock-out bar arms 64 are

clamped to two vertical, reciprocating knock-out rods 70. The rods 70 are

journaled or supported at positions 71a on a mold cover 71 below the knock-out

bar arms 64. Because the rods 70 can have a substantial unsupported or

unguided length above the position 71a, high bending stress can be realized in

the rod 70.

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 6, the rods 70 are driven by the

rotation of cams 72 which are mounted on a cam shaft 73 rotationally mounted

to the machine frame. The cam shaft 73 is driven to rotate by a sprocket 74.

The sprocket is driven by a drive chain 75, which is driven by the power train of

the machine. The cams 72 have cut-out, flat regions 78. Knock-out arms 79 are

pivotally connected to the machine frame at a bolt or axle connection or pivot

connection 79a and have arcuate ends 80 which slide along the rotating cam

surface 84. When the ends 80 reach the cut out, flat regions 78 of the cams, the

knock-out arms 79 rotate downwardly in the direction R, and then rotate

upwardly in a reverse direction when the flat regions 78 have passed. Thus,

rotation of the cams 84 causes an up and down pivoting of the knock-out arms

79 about the connection 79a. An opposite end 90 of each of the knock-out arms

is connected to one knock-out rod 70 by a bolted linkage 92 and by a bolt 94.

Extending outwardly from each rod 70 is a flag or lug 96 having a hole for

receiving a machine screw 98 which is threaded into one of two opposite ends of

a spacer rod or tie rod 100. The flag 96 is possibly subjected to high bending or

twisting forces during operation and can possibly be subject to cracking due to

fatigue.

An oil pan 101 is located beneath each cam 72. One will be described,

the respective other is mirror image identical. A front wick 102 made of a

woven, sponge or other wick material, is located at the connection 79a, held in

place by a washer 102a to continuously oil the pivoting connection 79a. A rear

wick 103 is held against the cam surface 84 to continuously oil the interface

between the region 78 and the end 80 of the knock-out arm 79. The pan has an

open top 104 through which the wicks 102, 103 are dipped. The pan 101 holds a supply of oil 105. It can possibly be a maintenance problem that sprayed wash

water inadvertently enters the open top 104 of the pan 101 and contaminates or

otherwise washes out the oil.

Each bolted linkage 92 is also connected by a bolt 95a to a vertical leg

95b of a moveable plate 95. The plate is held within a guide frame 97 which is

mounted by machine screws to a stationary part of the machine frame, at a top of

the frame 97. Two springs 95d are mounted between an upper wall of the frame

and a bottom leg 95c of the plate and resist the upward lifting of the plate within

the frame. The springs are therefore the driving downward force generator of

the knock-out operation. In FIGURE 4D the springs are shown compressed

with the knock-out rod lifted by the associated cam 72. In FIGURE 6, the

springs are expanded, and the knock-out rods have been driven to their

downward position.

The knock-out bar arms 64 are mounted to top ends of the rods 70. The

bar arms 64 are each fixed vertically to a rod by a top fastener 64a, and

rotationally by a clamp arrangement 64b closed by a horizontal fastener 64c.

The bar arms 64 are fastened by bolts or machine screws to the horizontal bar 60

which holds the knock-out cups 52. Depending on the product being formed,

the bar 60 and cups 52 can have a different shape, and/or the bar can carry a

different number of cups. Also shown in FIGURE 2 is a vacuum bar assembly 106 which

reciprocates during operation of the machine as part of a vacuum transfer shuttle

or vacuum bar assembly for interleaving flexible paper sheets with formed

patties as described in U.S. Patent 3,952,478; 4,182,003; or 4,054,967. Also

included is a paper placer assembly 107 which places the flexible paper sheets

onto the vacuum bar assembly. Both the vacuum bar assembly and the paper

placer assembly are driven by reciprocal motion of rods, i.e., by vacuum bar

rods 108, 108a (see FIGURE 8B) having a square cross section, and by a paper

placer drive rod 110 having a round cross section, respectively.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the reciprocating mold plate 47 connected via a

hinge assembly 120 to a drive plate or slide plate 124. The drive plate 124 has

an elongated rectangular cross section. The drive plate 124, the vacuum bar

drive rod 108 and the paper placer drive rod 110 must all penetrate through, and

reciprocate through the penetration of, a front wall or skin 130 which separates

the food forming front section of the machine from the mechanical

compartment. For sanitary reasons, at each penetration a sealing element is

provided. The drive plate 124 requires a rectangular sealing element 140 bolted

to the skin 130. A similar rectangular seal 144 must be provided at the vacuum

rod drive bar 108 as it penetrates the skin 130. Rectangular seals, because of

sharp corners are more prone to leakage, and are more expensive than standard circular shaft or rod seals. A circular seal 145 can be used at the paper placer

drive rod 110 where it penetrates the skin 130.

FIGURE 4 A shows the vacuum bar drive rod or shuttle arm 108

penetrating the skin or wall 130. The rod 108 is connected via an intermediate

plate 150 to a rack 152. The rack 152 is driven to reciprocate by a pinion 154.

FIGURES 8 A and 8B show the arrangement of the vacuum bar drive rod

108 in more detail. The rack 152 is slidably held in a channel 153. It is to be

noted that there are two drive rods 108, 108a arranged on a right side and a left

side of the machine respectively. Each of the rods 108, 108a is connected to a

rack and driven by a pinion 154 as shown in FIGURE 8 A. Each of the rods 108,

108a is connected to one lateral side of the vacuum bar 106 by two machine

screws or bolts 156. The rods 108 pass through bearing blocks 160, 160a

respectively before being connected to the vacuum bar 106. A paper placer

drive sprocket 160 rotates a paper placer drive shaft 162 which rotates a paper

placer crank arm 163 (shown in FIGURE 4C) which drives the paper placer

drive rod (via linkages) to reciprocate. The crank arm rotates about a horizontal

axis of the drive shaft.

Returning to FIGURES 4A and 4B, the main drive motor 170 is shown,

arranged for driving a drive motor pulley 172 which drives a drive belt 174.

The drive belt 174 drives a reducer pulley 176 which inputs rotational power to

a mold plate drive reducer 180 (see FIGURE 5). A reducer output shaft 182 outputs rotational power from the reducer 180. Sprockets and pulleys which are

fixed to the output shaft 182 drive various systems including the drive chain 75

for actuating the knock-out rods 70, and a drive chain 185 for the paper placer

sprocket 160. A hydraulic oil tank 186 is located at a front bottom portion of the

machine. A rear output shaft of the main drive motor 170 drives a hydraulic

pump 187 which powers the hydraulic systems of the machine. Also shown in

FIGURE 4B is a bottom skin or floor 188 which is located at an elevation equal

to a bottom 190 of a bottom horizontal frame member 192. The bottom skin

188 substantially covers a bottom of the machine.

FIGURE 5 illustrates that the drive system for the mold plate includes a

long rocker arm 200 which is connected by a slide plate linkage 202 to the slide

plate or drive plate 124. Laterally arranged slide bearings 206a, 206b receive

lateral edges of the slide plate 124 and guide the reciprocating movement of the

slide plate 124 therein. The lateral bearings 206a, 206b are fixed to the machine

overhead structure. Also shown is a feed screw gear box 210 for driving the

feed screws within the hopper 40. A cabinet blower 211 driven by a motor 212

is used to circulate cooling air or purge air through the housing 34.

FIGURE 7 shows the drive for the molding plate 47 in more detail. The

hinge assembly 120 includes fixed hinge plates 214a, 214b holding a hinge axle

216 upon which are mounted hinged grippers 218a, 218b. The axle 216 allows a

degree of pivoting between the fixed hinge plates 214a, 214b and the grippers 218a, 218b respectively. The hinged grippers 218a, 218b include bottom jaws

219a, 219b which are fixed to the upper jaws by machine screws 220, but when

the bottom jaws 219a, 219b are released by unscrewing of the machine screws

220, they can pivot downwardly about the axle 216 to allow downward removal

of the mold plate 47. The mold plate 47 is provided with holes for allowing

passage of the machine screws 220. The hinge plates 214a, 214b are fixed to the

slide plate 124 by machine screws 224 which pass through the slide plate 124

and are received into threaded holes in an underlying part of the hinge plates

214a, 214b respectively.

The slide plate linkage 202 includes an adjustable female rod end 230

connected to a clevis 232 which is fixed to the slide plate 124 via a machine

screw 236 which is threaded into an underlying part of the U-shaped clevis. The

slide plate 124 includes a hole for receiving the machine screw 236. A bolt 238

connects the clevis 232 with an eye-bolt of the female rod end 230. This allows

pivoting about the horizontal between the clevis 232 and the female rod end 230.

A male rod end 240 is threaded into the female rod end 230 and includes an eye-

bolt end 242 for receiving a bolt 246 to allow relative pivoting about the

horizontal axis between the male rod end 240 and the long rocker arm 200. A

short rocker arm 256 is fixed to the long rocker arm 200 by a shear pin 250 via a

shaft 254. The short rocker arm 256 includes an adjustable follower 260 which

rides in a shaped cam channel 266 formed in the mold plate drive cam 270. The mold plate drive cam 270 is driven in rotation by the mold plate drive reducer

180 (shown in FIGURE 5). The interaction between the short rocker arm, the

cam 270 and the long rocker arm causes back and forth reciprocation of the slide

plate 124, and thus the mold plate 47.

The inventors have recognized that it would be advantageous to provide

an improved patty forming machine, which reduces or eliminates the need for

rectangular seals at the front wall of the mechanical compartment. The

inventors have also recognized that it would be advantageous to provide a patty

forming machine having a bottom skin which can be more freely and reliably

cleaned and drained.

The inventors have recognized that it would be advantageous to provide

an improved patty forming machine, which reduces bending or twisting forces

on the knock-out rods and which prevents to a great extent the contamination or

washout of oil from reservoirs which serve for the lubrication of the knock-out

cams and knock-out arm pivot connections to the machine frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an improved patty forming machine.

Particularly, the invention includes an improved vacuum bar shuttle rod having a

circular cross section which is more easily, reliably and economically sealed at

its penetration at a wall which separates the mechanical compartment from the

patty forming compartment compared to the square cross sectional bars of the

prior art machine described in FIGURES 1-8B. The invention also provides an

improved mold plate drive by replacing a portion of the flat slide plate or drive

plate of the prior art machine described in FIGURES 1-8B with two parallel

drive rods having circular cross sections. The rods can be more readily, reliably

and economically sealed at the wall which separates the mechanical

compartment from the patty forming compartment. Additionally, the invention

provides an improved housing for the machine in that a bottom floor or bottom

"skin" is spaced one inch from the bottom-most horizontal frame for better

drainage and cleaning and visual inspection.

The invention also includes an improved knock-out apparatus for

pushing formed food products or patties from mold plates. The apparatus

includes improved knock-out rods having improved upper knock-out rod

supports which reduce bending stress on the knock-out rods. The upper knock-

out rod supports are inverted L-shaped supports each having a sleeve bearing in an overhang portion to guide a top extension of a knock-out rod inserted therein.

The knock-out bar arm is located below the sleeve bearing.

The apparatus includes an improved spacer rod or tie rod attachment

structure connected to the two knock-out rods to reduce fatigue failure at the

connection location. The improved structure includes a pair of clamp blocks

each of which clamps one of the knock-out rods around its circumference. The

clamp blocks are fastened together by a spacer rod or tie rod. The use of a

unitary flag or lug used in the prior art knock-out rod is avoided.

The apparatus also includes an improved oiling system for the knock-out

cam and pivot connection bearing surfaces. The oiling system includes two

substantially enclosed reservoirs each having openings for receiving a wick for

each of the cam surface and the pivot connection of the knock-out arm located at

each side of the machine, respectively.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will

become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention

and the embodiments thereof, and from the accompanying drawings in which

details of the invention are fully and completely disclosed as part of this

specification. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a prior art patty forming machine;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective view of a portion of

the machine shown in FIGURE 1 , with an access door opened to allow viewing

inside the cabinetry;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the machine

of FIGURE 1 with cabinetry opened or removed to allow viewing of mechanical

components;

FIGURE 4 A is a fragmentary left side, rear elevational view of the

machine shown in FIGURE 1 with cabinetry removed to view the inside

mechanical components;

FIGURE 4B is a fragmentary left side, front elevational view of the

machine of FIGURE 1 with cabinetry removed to view the internal mechanical

components;

FIGURE 4C is a fragmentary right side, rear elevational view of the

machine of FIGURE 1 with cabinetry either removed or opened to view the

inside mechanical components;

FIGURE 4D is a fragmentary front end view of the machine of FIGURE

1 with cabinetry removed to view inside mechanical components;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary rear view of the machine of FIGURE 1 with

a rear door opened to view inside mechanical components; FIGURE 6 is a partially exploded, fragmentary, enlarged perspective

view of a patty knock-out system of the machine shown in FIGURE 1, isolated

from surrounding components for clarity;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially exploded, perspective

view of a mold plate driving system from the machine shown in FIGURE 1

viewed in isolation from surrounding components for clarity;

FIGURE 8A is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of a vacuum

bar shuttle system from the machine in FIGURE 1 , shown in isolation from

surrounding components for clarity;

FIGURE 8B is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a vacuum bar

connected to left and right vacuum bar shuttle arms, taken from the machine of

FIGURE 1, shown in isolation from surrounding components for clarity;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary right side elevational view of a patty forming

machine of the present invention;

FIGURE 9 A is a fragmentary front end view of the patty forming

machine shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line

10-10 from FIGURE 9 A;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken from FIGURE

10;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary enlarged view taken from FIGURE 10; FIGURE 13 is a sectional view taken generally along line 13-13 from

FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14A is a sectional view taken generally along line 14A-14A

from FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 14B is a sectional view taken generally along line 14B-14B

from FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 15 A is a plan view of a shuttle drive bar taken from FIGURE

10;

FIGURE 15B is an elevational view of the shuttle drive bar of FIGURE

15A;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective view of a connection

detail between mold plate drive rods and a mold plate taken from FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 17 is a rear fragmentary perspective view of the patty forming

machine of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 18 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken from

FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 19 is an enlarged fragmentary end view taken from FIGURE

9A;

FIGURE 20 is a left side view of an oil pan shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 21 is a top plane view of the oil pan shown in FIGURE 20;

FIGURE 22 is an end view of the oil pan shown in FIGURE 20; FIGURE 23 is a side view of a knock-out rod shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 24 is an end view of the knock-out rod shown in FIGURE 23;

FIGURE 25 is a plane view of a knock-out rod spacer assembly shown in

FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 26 is a left end view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 25; and

FIGURE 27 is a perspective view of the knock-out bar arm and

supporting assembly shown in FIGURE 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different

forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail

specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure

is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is

not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a patty forming machine 300 arranged and

configured substantially similarly to the machine shown in FIGURES 1-8B

except as described below. The machine is structurally supported on and within

a rectangular space frame 302 having an upper rectangular frame 304 and a

lower rectangular frame 306 supported by columns 308 at each corner and

intermittently along sides of the frame 302. A plurality of tubular supports 310

extend above the upper rectangular frame 304 to support overhead equipment.

A skin 314 surrounds a mechanical compartment 318 and includes a bottom skin

or floor 320 which has a top surface 322 and a downwardly bent surrounding lip

324. The top surface slopes slightly from its edges to a center region which

includes a center drain. The bottom skin 320 prevents contamination of the

components within the housing 34 caused by spraying or splashing against the

floor during operation, or during spray cleaning of the machine. The machine

300 provides a gap 326 between a bottom 328 of the lower rectangular frame

306, which surrounds a perimeter of the mechanical compartment 318, and the top surface 322. The gap 326 is preferably about one inch and allows for better

drainage and cleaning of the bottom skin 320 due to noninterference with the

lower frame 306. The gap 326 is accessible upon opening of a cabinet doors

and panels and allows a more effective viewing of the top surface 322 of the

skin 320.

The mechanical compartment 318 is separated from a patty molding area

by a front barrier wall 342 and a top barrier wall 344. A recovery pan 346

connected to the front barrier wall 342 overlies the top barrier wall 344. The

mold plate 47 is driven into reciprocation by two parallel mold plate drive rods

350, 352 (see FIG. 9A). The drive rods 350, 352 each pierce through the barrier

wall 342 through a seal assembly 356, 358 respectively (see FIG. 10). The seals

356, 358 provide a sealing and wiping action and are preferably rod wiper type

seals for round rods. These seals are two-component seals having a seal body

360 and a back side lock nut 362. At a front end of the rods 350, 352 are flat

regions to which is connected a hinge assembly 364 as shown in FIGURE 16.

The hinge assembly 364 functions substantially the same as the hinge assembly

120 described in FIGURE 7 except that the rods 350, 352 are connected to the

hinge assembly 364 via the hinge axle 366 and end retaining machine screws

368a, 368b. The rods 350, 352 as well as the hinge assembly 364 and the plate 47 are

shown in two positions in FIGURE 10: a forward-most position (shown solid)

and a rear retracted position (shown in phantom).

The rods 350, 352 extend rearwardly within the mechanical compartment

318 to a fully retracted position shown in phantom in FIGURE 9. The parallel

rods, 350, 352 are guided in linear rod bearings 370, 372, 374, 376 which are

each fixed to a top structure plate 380 which is supported and fixed by the

columns 310. The bearings 370, 372, 374, 376 are each formed of upper and

lower halves which are bolted together by way of machine screws 386.

The bearing 372 is shown in FIGURE 17. The bearing 370 is identically

fashioned. The bearings 374, 376 are configured in mirror image fashion. The

bearing 372 includes a top bearing 390 which is fixed to a bottom bearing 392

by the fasteners 386 which can also be used, given sufficient length, to fasten the

bearing assembly 372 to threaded holes in the overhead structure 380. The

upper and lower bearing halves 390, 392 each include C-shaped bearing surfaces

400 which are treated with a Teflon or other friction reducing bearing material,

or alternatively have rollers or other friction reducing members therein. The

bearing halves 390, 392 provide an inside longitudinal gap 404 for allowing the

lengthwise movement of a slide plate 406 through the bearing 372. The slide

plate 406 is fastened to the rod 350 along one lateral side thereof, and fastened to the rod 352 along an opposite lateral side thereof by a plurality of spaced

apart fasteners 408.

The long rocker arm 200 is connected to the slide plate 406 in identical

fashion to the connection between the long rocker arm 200 and the slide plate

124 as shown in FIGURE 7, that is, using the clevis, female rod end, male rod

end and associated bolts. The long rocker arm 200 is connected to a slide plate

driving system, including the cam plate 270, substantially as shown in FIGURE

7. Reciprocal pivoting of the long rocker arm 200 causes the longitudinal

reciprocation of the slide plate 406 and the two rods 350, 352 through the

bearings 370, 372, 374, 376.

A further improvement of the present invention involves the structure of

a vacuum arm shuttle rod 450. This rod 450, unlike the vacuum bar shuttle arms

108, 108a shown in FIGURES 8 A and 8B, has a round cross section. This

facilitates the use of an annular seal 454 at the barrier wall 342, such as a rod

wiper type seal. Similar to the seals 356,358, the seal 454 is a two piece annular

seal.

FIGURES 11, 14A and 14B illustrate the rod 450 having a flat section

456 having a keyway 460 for receiving an intermediate plate 462 which

connects to a rack 464. The rod 450, the intermediate plate 462 and the rack 464

are fastened by machine screws or bolts 466. The rack 464 is reciprocally driven by a pinion such as the pinion 154 as previously described in FIGURE

8A, with regard to driving the rack 152.

As shown in FIGURE 10, two rods 450, two racks 464 and two plates

462 are arranged in two assemblies which are assembled in mirror image fashion

on opposite sides of the machine and connected to the bar 106 to operate in

tandem as described above with regard to the prior art rods 108, 108a.

FIGURE 15A and 15B show the rod 450 in isolation including the flat

end 456 and keyway 460. FIGURE 12 shows the vacuum bar 106 connected to

an opposite end of the rod 450, particularly on a top flat surface 470 thereof.

The flat surface is also shown in FIGURE 15A and 15B. Two positions of the

vacuum bar 106 are shown (one shown solid and one shown in phantom)

corresponding to the reciprocation of the rod 450. The rod 450 also passes

through a bearing support 472 between the intermediate plate 462 and the

vacuum bar 106.

FIGURE 13 shows in section the vacuum shuttle bar 450 connected to

the vacuum bar 106 using a threaded stud 480 threaded into the vacuum bar 450,

and having an overlying nut 482 drawn tight on the stud, onto the vacuum bar

106.

The present invention also includes an improvement to the knock-out

configuration of FIGURE 6. The present invention also includes two cams, two

knock-out arms, two knock-out rods, two knock-out bar arms, and two oiling systems in substantially the same general layout a shown in FIGURE 6. The

invention provides an improved tie bar connection detail, an improved knock¬

out rod and an improved knock-out rod support, and an improved oil reservoir,

all as compared to that illustrated in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 illustrates the knock-out arm 79 interacting with the cam 72

to be generally identical to that shown in FIGURE 6. The cam is driven by the

drive chain 75 which is driven by an output shaft from the drive reducer 180.

The knock-out arm 79 is connected via the linkage 92 to a knock-out rod 400 of

the present invention.

FIGURES 9 A and 19 show the knock-out arm 79 which is connected by

the fastener 95a to the linkage 92. The linkage 92 is in the form of dual linkage

plates on opposite sides of the knock-out arm 79. The linkage 92 and knock-out

arm 79 are fit between the vertical legs 95b and the fastener 95a connects the

two vertical legs 95b, the two linkage plates 92 and the knock-out arm 79. The

linkage plates 92 are further connected at an opposite end to the knock-out rod

400 using the fastener 94.

The rod 400 reciprocates within a stationary tubular guide or bushing

410. The rod is surrounded by a protective tube 412. The protective tube 412

also includes a beveled shoulder piece 414 adjacent an exposed surface 416

which prevents accumulation of debris or waste product into sharp corners or

joints during spray cleaning of the apparatus. The beveled shoulder piece acts to deflect matter and water outwardly. An upper bushing or guide 413 guides an

upper portion of the reciprocating rod 400.

The rod 400 extends upwardly to above a mold plate cover top surface

420. The knock-out bar arms 64, which are substantially identical to those

shown in FIGURES 6, are fit over the rod 400 and held down onto a shoulder

422 of the rod 400 by a nut 424. Unlike the rod shown in FIGURE 6, the rod of

the present invention includes an extension 426 above a threaded region 428.

An inverted L-shaped support bracket 430 is fastened to the mold cover

support surface 420 by a fastener 432 fit through a bore 433 of a vertical leg 435

of the bracket. The fastener 432 is screwed into a threaded hole 434 of the mold

cover. An overhanging portion 436 of the bracket 430 includes an aperture 440

holding a sleeve bearing 444 which receives the extension 426 of the rod 400.

Thus, the rod extension 426 can slide vertically within the sleeve bearing 444.

A second support bracket 430a is provided at the respective opposite

knock-out rod 400 fashioned in mirror image fashion, with the overhang portion

436a angled outwardly of the center line of the machine. It should also be noted

that FIGURE 9A shows the left knock-out rod 400 in a raised position and the

right knock-out rod 400 in a lowered position. This would not be a preferred

operating condition but is only shown to illustrate the varied movement of the

extensions 426 of the two knock-out rods 400. In fact, the knock-out rods 400

move up and down together, evenly. FIGURES 23 and 24 illustrate the structure of the knock-out rods

according to the invention. The knock-out rods are in fact tubular having a

hollow interior 450. The extension 426, the threaded region 428, the shoulder

422 and a plug portion 454, as a unitary structure, are inserted into an end of the

knock-out rod tube 456, and welded thereto. At the bottom end of the knock-out

rod a second unitary structure 460 includes a lug 464 with an aperture 466, the

lug 464 extending in unitary fashion with a second plug 468 which is welded

into an end of the tube 456.

FIGURE 18 shows a clamp block or yoke 470 which clamps around the

knock-out rod 400 and provides a connection for a spacer rod or a tie rod 474

which connects the two knock-out rods 400.

FIGURE 25 shows this arrangement in more detail. The yoke 470

includes a central, generally circular aperture 476 for receiving the knock-out

rod 400. The aperture 476 is open into a slot 477. A transverse bore 478

extends through a width of the yoke 470 including the slot 477. The bore is

counter sunk for receiving a machine screw or bolt 480. The opposite side yoke

470 is arranged in a mirror image orientation. Between the yokes 470 is

arranged a tie rod 474 which is substantially solid with threaded bores 484 at

opposite ends for receiving the fasteners 480 to lock the yokes 470 to opposite

ends of the tie rod 474. By tightening the fasteners 480 the yokes are clamped

to the tie rod 400 due to the presence of the slot 477 which allows the aperture 476 to be drawn tight against the knock-out rods 400. Thus, the flag or tab 96

shown in FIGURE 6 is eliminated and a more sturdy construction for the tie rod

is provided, avoiding the potential fabrication problem of the flag 96 and the

operational problem of the cracking of the flag 96 from the knock-out rod 70.

FIGURE 18 illustrates a further improvement of the present invention

over the prior art machine. Particularly, referring to FIGURE 6, the oil pans 101

which include an open top 104 are prone to be contaminated or washed out by

the entry of wash water during a cleaning operation into the oil 105. According

to the present invention, substantially sealed oil containing reservoirs 500 are

provided in substantially the same positions that the open top oil pans 101 are

located in FIGURE 6, relative to the cams 72 and the knock-out arms 79.

One of the reservoirs 500 is shown in detail in FIGURES 20 through 22.

It should be noted that the reservoir for the right side of the machine is shown

but that the reservoir for the left side would merely be a mirror image structure

to that for the right side. FIGURE 20 shows the reservoir including side walls

504, 505 a bottom wall 506, a top wall 508 and a side oil nozzle 510, which is

typically a one quarter inch NPT half coupling, welded into an opening in an

end wall 514 which faces toward the front of the machine for easy access and

viewing of oil level. The opposite end wall is labeled 518 in the figure. As shown in FIGURE 22, the top wall 508 extends outwardly of the side

wall 505 into a flange portion 520 having a plurality of screw receiving holes

522 for attaching the reservoir 500 to stationary structure of the machine.

As shown in FIGURE 21 the top wall 508 includes a large rectangular

opening 530 for the insertion of the wick 102 and a smaller rectangular opening

532 for the insertion of the wick 103. The function of the two wicks 102, 103 is

explained with regard to FIGURE 6. A further hole 534 is arranged adjacent to

the nozzle 510 and functions as a fill port. In this regard an oil hole cover 544

can be pushed or threaded into the opening 534 for filling the reservoir 500 with

oil. An oil hole cover is a short cylindrical tube with a spring loaded closed lid.

A threaded viewing gauge 546 is used to plug the side oil nozzle 510. The

nozzle 510 being open on a side of the reservoir can be used to check proper

level within the reservoir.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and

modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the

invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific

apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A patty forming machine, comprising:

a compartment which encloses a reciprocating device and which

has a front wall;

a mold plate arranged to reciprocate outside of said compartment

by force from said reciprocating device, said mold plate having at least one

cavity for receiving food product to form a patty;

at least one seal mounted to said front wall, surrounding at least

one respective opening;

at least one drive rod connecting said reciprocating device to said

mold plate which penetrates through said opening in said front wall, said drive

rod penetrating said seal mounted to said front wall, said drive rod having a

round cross section.

2. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein said drive rod is one

of two drive rods arranged in parallel and penetrating two separate seals

surrounding two separate openings in said front wall, both said drive rods

having round cross sections.

3. The machine according to claim 2, wherein said reciprocating

device includes a rocker arm and a motor, said rocker arm driven to pivotally reciprocate by said motor, and comprising a slide plate connected between said

two drive rods and connected to said rocker arm.

4. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said reciprocating

device comprises a rocker arm and a motor, the rotation of the motor causing

pivotal reciprocation of the rocker arm, the rocker arm operatively connected to

said drive rod.

5. The machine according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a further seal mounted to said front wall, surrounding a further

opening; and

a vacuum bar assembly having a reciprocating rod and a vacuum

bar for interleaving flexible paper sheets with formed patties, said vacuum bar

being driven by said reciprocating rod, the reciprocating rod operatively

connected to the reciprocating device, and passing through the front wall, said

reciprocating rod having a round cross-section and penetrating a seal mounted to

said front wall.

6. The machine according to claim 5, wherein said vacuum bar

assembly includes a rack, and an intermediate plate, the reciprocating rod fastened to the intermediate plate, the intermediate plate fastened to the rack, the

rack and intermediate plate located within said compartment.

7. The machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a frame structure which carries said compartment, said frame

structure having a bottom horizontal frame; and

a bottom skin underlying said frame structure, said bottom skin

spaced a distance below said bottom horizontal frame to form a vertical gap.

8. A patty forming machine comprising:

a compartment which encloses a reciprocating device and which

has a front wall;

a mold plate arranged to reciprocate outside of said compartment

by force from said reciprocating device, said mold plate having at least one

cavity for receiving food product to form a patty;

a seal carried by said front wall and surrounding an opening; and

a vacuum bar assembly having a vacuum bar for interleaving

flexible paper sheets with formed patties, said vacuum bar being driven by a

reciprocating rod, the reciprocating rod operatively connected to the

reciprocating device, and passing through the front wall, the reciprocating rod

having a round cross-section and penetrating said seal.

9. The machine according to claim 8, wherein said vacuum bar

assembly includes a rack, and an intermediate plate, the reciprocating rod

fastened to the intermediate plate, the intermediate plate fastened to the rack, the

rack and intermediate plate located within said compartment.

10. A patty forming machine, comprising:

a frame structure which carries a reciprocating device;

a mold plate arranged to reciprocate by a force from said

reciprocating device, said mold plate having at least one cavity for receiving

food product to form a patty;

wherein said frame structure has a bottom horizontal frame, and

including a bottom skin underlying said frame structure, said bottom skin spaced

a distance below said bottom horizontal frame to form a vertical gap.

11. The machine according to claim 10, wherein said gap has a height

of about 1 inch.

12. A patty forming machine, comprising:

a frame structure;

a compartment carried by said frame structure, said compartment

enclosing a reciprocating device and having a front wall;

a mold plate arranged to reciprocate outside of said compartment

by force from said reciprocating device, said mold plate having at least one

cavity for receiving food product to form a patty;

two annular seals arranged around two openings in said front wall

respectively;

two drive rods arranged in parallel, said drive rods connecting

said reciprocating device to said mold plate, said drive rods penetrating through

said openings in said front wall, said drive rods penetrating said seals, said drive

rods having round cross sections;

wherein said reciprocating device comprises a rocker arm and a

motor, the rotation of the motor causing pivotal reciprocation of the rocker arm;

a slide plate connected between said two drive rods and connected

to said rocker arm;

a further pair of annular seals which surround further openings

through said front wall;

a vacuum bar assembly having a pair of reciprocating rods and a

vacuum bar for interleaving flexible paper sheets with formed patties, said vacuum bar being driven by said reciprocating rods, the reciprocating rods

operatively connected to the reciprocating device, and passing through said

further openings, the reciprocating rods each having a round cross-section and

penetrating said further annular seals respectively;

wherein said vacuum bar assembly includes a pair of racks, and a

pair of intermediate plates, each reciprocating rod fastened to one of the

intermediate plates, each of the intermediate plates fastened to one of the racks,

the racks and intermediate plates located within said compartment;

a bottom skin underlying said frame structure;

wherein said frame structure has a bottom horizontal frame, said

bottom skin spaced a distance below said bottom horizontal frame to form a

vertical gap.

13. A patty forming machine, comprising:

a support frame;

a mold plate driven to reciprocate along a first direction with

respect to said support structure and having at least one cavity for receiving food

product to be molded into a patty;

a knock-out cup arranged for reciprocation along a second

direction with respect to said support structure and aligned for repetitively

pushing successive patties out of said cavity; and at least one knock-out rod having a base end driven to reciprocate

along said second direction, and a distal end;

a guide;

wherein said knock-out cup is operatively connected to said

knock-out rod at a first position on said knock-out rod, and said knock-out rod is

guided for sliding movement by said guide located at a second position on said

rod, said second position located between said first position and said distal end

of said rod.

14. The machine according to claim 13, wherein said knock-out cup

is one of a plurality of knock-out cups; and

comprising a knock-out bar, said cups mounted to said bar to

conjointly reciprocate with said bar;

wherein said knock-out rod is one of a pair of knock-out rods

which are driven into reciprocation and which are operatively connected at

respective first positions on said rods to said knock-out bar, and which are both

guided for sliding movement at second positions between respective first

positions and respective distal ends of said rods.

15. The machine according to claim 14, comprising a tie rod and a

pair of clamp blocks, wherein said knock-out rods are connected together by said tie rod, said tie rod being fastened to said clamp blocks, each of said clamp

blocks clamped to one of said knock-out rods.

16. The machine according to claim 13 comprising a knock-out arm,

a rotating cam having a cam surface, an oil reservoir, a first wick and a second

wick, wherein said knock-out rod is reciprocated by said knock-out arm which is

pivoted reciprocally about a pivoting connection to said support frame by sliding

contact force from a cam surface of said rotating cam, and said oil reservoir is

located adjacent to said cam and to said pivoting connection, said oil reservoir

being substantially closed to prevent contamination, said first wick extending

from said pivoting connection into said oil reservoir to supply oil to said

pivoting connection, and said second wick extends from said cam surface into

said oil reservoir to provide oil to said cam surface.

17. The machine according to claim 16 comprising an oil level check

nozzle penetrating through a side wall of said oil reservoir.

18. The machine according to claim 13 wherein said guide comprises

an inverted L-shaped member having a guide hole through its horizontal leg for

guiding said knock-out rod and an attachment bore through its vertical leg for

receiving a fastener to fasten the guide to the support structure.

19. The machine according to claim 13 comprising an arm which is

clamped to said knock-out rod at one end thereof and extends horizontally

therefrom and is operatively fastened at an opposite end thereof to said knock¬

out cup.

20. The machine according to claim 14 comprising a pair of arms

each of which extends from one knock-out rod and is clamped at a base end

thereto, and distal ends of said arms are fastened to said bar.

21. A patty forming machine, comprising:

a machine frame;

a mold plate having cavities for receiving food product to be

molded into patties, said mold plate mounted for reciprocation with respect to

said machine frame;

a plurality of knock-out cups arranged to reciprocate into said

cavities to dislodge patties from said cavities;

a knock-out bar extending horizontally and attached to said

knock-out cups;

a pair of knock-out rods arranged to reciprocate together

vertically, said rods each operatively connected to said bar; and a tie rod and a pair of clamp blocks, said clamp blocks each

attached to said tie rod at opposite ends thereof, said clamp blocks each clamped

to one of said knock-out rods.

22. The machine according to claim 21 , comprising a pair of knock¬

out bar arms, each of said knock-out bar arms connected at a base end to one of

said knock-out rods and extending horizontally therefrom to a distal end which

is connected to said bar.

23. The machine according to claim 22, comprising a pair of guide

members, one arranged adjacent to each of said knock-out rods, said guide

members each having a guiding portion arranged above the connection to said

knock-out rod of said knock-out bar arm, to guide vertical movement of said

knock-out rod.

24. A patty forming machine, comprising:

a machine structure;

a reciprocating mold plate having at least one cavity for receiving

food product to be formed into a patty;

a reciprocating knock-out cup arranged for pushing a patty out of

said cavity; a knock-out arm pivotally mounted with respect to said machine

structure at a pivoting connection, and operatively connected to said knock-out

cup to drive the knock-out cup into reciprocation;

a cam rotatably mounted with respect to said machine structure

and driven in rotation, said cam having a cam surface, said knock-out arm

pivoted reciprocally by sliding contact force from said cam surface of said

rotating cam;

an oil reservoir carried by said machine structure and having a top

wall, said oil reservoir being substantially closed by said top wall to prevent

contamination of oil within said reservoir;

a first wick and a second wick, said first wick extending from said

oil reservoir to said knock-out arm to supply oil to said pivoting connection, and

said second wick extending from said reservoir to said cam surface to supply oil

to said cam surface, said top wall having wick openings which closely conform

to the cross-section of said first and second wicks respectively, said first and

second wicks penetrating into said reservoir through said wick openings of said

oil reservoir top wall.

25. The machine according to claim 24 comprising an oil level check

nozzle penetrating through a side wall of said oil reservoir.

26. The machine according to claim 24 comprising a knock-out rod,

and a horizontally extending arm, said knock-out rod is arranged vertically and

is connected to said cup via said horizontally extending arm, said knock-out arm

is connected to said knock-out rod, pivoting reciprocation of said knock-out arm

vertically reciprocates said knock-out rod.

27. A patty forming machine, comprising:

a machine frame;

a mold plate having cavities for receiving food product to be

molded into patties, said mold plate mounted for reciprocation with respect to

said machine frame;

a plurality of knock-out cups arranged to reciprocate into said

cavities to dislodge patties from said cavities;

a bar extending horizontally and operatively connected to said

knock-out cups;

a pair of knock-out rods arranged to reciprocate together

vertically, said rods each operatively connected to said bar;

a tie rod and a pair of clamp blocks, said clamp blocks each

attached to said tie rod at opposite ends thereof, said clamp blocks each clamped

to one of said knock-out rods; a pair of knock-out arms and a pair of rotating cams each having a

cam surface, a pair of oil reservoirs, a pair of first wicks and a pair of second

wicks, wherein said knock-out rods are reciprocated by said knock-out arms

which are pivoted reciprocally by sliding contact force from cam surfaces of

said rotating cams, and said oil reservoirs are substantially closed by a top wall

thereof to prevent contamination, said first wicks each extending from said

pivoting connection into said oil reservoir to supply oil to said pivoting

connection, and said second wicks each extending from said cam surface into

said oil reservoir to provide oil to said cam surface.

28. The machine according to claim 27 wherein said knock-out rods

are connected to said bar by a pair of knock-out bar arms, and each knock-out

rod is guided for vertical reciprocation by a guide, that comprises an inverted L-

shaped member having a guide hole through its horizontal leg for guiding said

knock-out rod and an attachment bore through its vertical leg for receiving a

fastener to fasten the guide to the support structure.

29. A patty forming machine, comprising:

a machine structure;

a reciprocating mold plate having at least one cavity for receiving

food product to be formed into a patty; a reciprocating knock-out cup arranged for pushing a patty out of

said cavity;

a knock-out arm pivotally mounted with respect to said machine

structure at a pivoting connection, and operatively connected to said knock-out

cup to drive the knock-out cup into reciprocation;

a cam rotatably mounted with respect to said machine structure

and driven in rotation, said cam having a cam surface, said knock-out arm

pivoted reciprocally by sliding contact force from said cam surface of said

rotating cam;

an oil reservoir carried by said machine structure and having an

enclosing wall to prevent contamination, said wall having a first wick opening;

a first wick, said first wick extending from said oil reservoir to

said cam surface to supply oil to said cam surface, said first wick penetrating

into said reservoir through said first wick opening, said first wick opening

closely conforming to a cross section of said first wick.

30. The machine according to claim 29, comprising a second wick,

and said enclosing wall including a second wick opening, said second wick

extending from said oil reservoir to said pivoting connection to supply oil to said

pivoting connection, said second wick penetrating into said reservoir through said second wick opening, said second wick opening closely conforming to a

cross section of said second wick.